Jonathan St. Romain, who manages the Capital Projects South Department of the Harris County Flood Control District, presented project updates at the Cypress Creek Flood Control Coalition’s annual meeting April 19. The CCFCC is a nonprofit group founded over 20 years ago to advocate for flood control measures in the Cypress Creek watershed.
While the $2.5 billion bond program passed in 2018 for HCFCD projects did not include funding for large-scale detention projects in the Cypress Creek watershed, it did include funding for right of way acquisition and studies to identify future projects, St. Romain said.
A report released in late 2021 by engineering firm Jones & Carter recommended 22 stormwater detention basins for the Cypress Creek watershed to mitigate flooding. St. Romain said these basins would add about 14,000 acre-feet—or 4.56 billion gallons—of stormwater detention volume to the watershed. More than 3,000 structures could benefit from flooding risk reduction between Hwy. 290 and the Hardy Toll Road over the next several years.
See active and upcoming project updates below:
Active projects
T.C. Jester stormwater detention basins- Since November 2021, 98,000 cubic yards of soil has been removed for a basin on the west side of T.C. Jester Boulevard.
- On the east side, the project is in the final design stage, and construction on two basins is expected to begin late this year. About $9.9 million in grant funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency is available.
- The flood control district continues to seek funding for the fourth basin—$17.87 million of which is included in the Texas Legislature’s House Bill 1.
- Construction will likely begin in early 2024 following a yearlong design process.
- The flood control district has obtained $8.25 million in federal funding to go toward this project.
- Property acquisition is underway, and construction is slated to begin later this summer.
- This project has received $15.4 million in grant funding through the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery program.
- This project is an overall effort for maintenance along tributaries and the main stem of Cypress Creek. More than 81,000 cubic yards of sediment have been removed from 20 miles of channel, and more than 150,000 tons of rock have been placed for erosion repairs.
- Batches 1 and 2 were completed in late 2022.
- Batch 3 is under construction with an estimated completion date of summer 2024.
- Batch 4 will move forward with construction bids this summer.
- Funding is partially covered by the 2018 bond program, and another $7.06 million is included in HB 1 this session.
Upcoming projects
Telge at Pleasant Grove stormwater detention basin- This project has the potential to reduce flooding risk for 634 structures.
- The estimated cost is $15.9 million.
- Harris County owns this property and is pursuing excavation and removal contracts.
- This project has the potential to reduce flooding risk for 737 structures.
- The estimated cost is $56.5 million.
- Harris County owns this property and is pursuing excavation and removal contracts.
- This project has the potential to reduce flooding risk for 60 structures.
- The estimated cost is $41.6 million; $8.25 million was included in HB 1.
- Harris County owns this property and is pursuing excavation and removal contracts.
- Potential to reduce flooding risk for 98 structures
- The estimated cost of $55.2 million.
- Harris County owns this property and is exploring a partnership with Harris County Water Control and Improvement District No. 110.
